This must be close to record timing for this chapter! I didn't have a computer, so I literally was writing this on the backs of napkins at a restaurant. Hope you like!

Chapter 8

Hours before, after having spoken to Dumbledore, the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione, were arguing. Or rather, Fred, George, and Ron were arguing with Hermione.

"Mum will kill us! I don't want to go back yet; I don't know about you, but I would much rather live a long and happy life!" This was Ron.

"Yes, but she'll only be angrier if we wait longer! We should go back to Grimmauld now. Besides, it was Harry's idea."

Harry, who had previously been staying out of the argument, and had been sharing an exasperated look with Ginny, snapped upright. "Don't you get me into this! Your mum's scary! She doesn't normally get mad at me, and I would much prefer it if it stayed that way."

Then Fred piped up. "Do you think that the Fat Lady would let us into the Gryffindor Common Room? Or if she doesn't, we could stay in the kitchens." All of them knew how to get into the kitchens, and knew that it could be a comfortable place to stay for a night or two.

To the great disappointment of Hermione, the others all agreed with Fred that they might as well stay at Hogwarts for the night.

The Fat Lady refused to let any of them in for a while, until Harry, with a burst of inspiration, said loudly, "You know, we all know Sirius Black. I'm sure that he would be more than happy to help us get through. He was remembering the unfortunate incident in their third year, when Sirius had tried to break into Gryffindor Tower, and managed to slash up the portrait of the Fat Lady in the process. Ever since, she had been terrified of the mere mention of the wizard, much like the wizarding community and Voldemort.

"Sirius Black? What? Where?" The Fat Lady was already hiding behind the frame, with just one eye, her pudgy fingers, and a bit of her pink dress were showing. "I don't see him."

"He's not here now," Hermione said crossly. She was getting annoyed. The argument plus this did little to improve her temper.

"Please let us in?" Ginny pleaded, giving that cute puppy dog look that everyone except for McGonagall fell for. (And Snape, but she was too scared to try it on him.)

The Fat Lady sighed loudly, stepped back into her picture gingerly, said "Fine" in a huffy sort of voice, and swung open for them.

"Finally!" Ron said loudly as they entered the familiar circular room with the overstuffed armchairs, though there was no fire going. "That took forever!"

"27 minutes," said George promptly.

"And 39.6 seconds. Nice face Ginny." Fred commented as they all sank down into armchairs or couches. Ginny grinned.

"You guys were timing that?" Hermione asked, torn between annoyance with the twins and amusement.

"Yep," they said simultaneously, and grinned. Harry grinned too. It was contagious. It was wonderful to be back at Hogwarts. No way he would admit it to Sirius, but his ancestral home was creepy.

As soon as he thought about Sirius, they all heard a scream from the Fat Lady. "Sirius Black! Ahhh!"

Then Remus's soothing voice. "It's all right. He won't attack you." They heard something suspiciously like a snort. "Are there kids in there, by any chance?"

"If you mean that incredibly rude bunch of teenagers, then, yes, I let them in not 10 minutes ago."

"Could you please let us in, then? We need to talk to them." The twins groaned, sure that they were going to be punished.

"At least you were polite. But he stays outside."

"Very well."

"Moony!"

"Please wait here, Sirius."

"Fine," he said sulkily.

The portrait hole swung open, revealing Remus, and a very disgruntled Sirius glaring daggers at the Fat Lady and Remus, before it swung shut. "I'm not going to ask what you five are doing here…"

"You're not?" asked Ron, surprised.

"…because Dumbledore already told me. Though I am afraid that I must tell Fred and George that their mother has once again found you secret stash of Extendable Ears." Fred and George cursed.

"No, I'm here because, well, Sirius is waiting in the hall for you Harry; you'd best go and talk to him. I think I'll stay a while in my old common room." Harry shot him and extremely bemused look, but climbed out of the portrait hole, where Sirius was waiting for him, and gave him a huge hug.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

"So." Fred was the first one to break the silence. "Did Sirius just call you Moony?" Ron and Hermione flinched. They had never gotten to telling them just who their role models, the Marauders, actually were.

"Yes, he did," Remus said, having an idea as to where this was going.

"You wouldn't happen to be a Marauder?" George looked wide eyes, with the idea that he could have been taught a whole year by a Marauder and not know.

Fred's face had a similar look.

Remus decided to play along. This could be rather entertaining, and it would make a good story. "Oh, didn't anyone tell you? I'm Moony. Sirius is Padfoot."

Not only Fred and George gasped, but Ginny also. She hadn't actually seen the Map, but had heard about it, and it's makers. It was odd to think of their ex-Professor and Sirius as pranksters.

The twins were now bending down in ridiculously low bows, and exclaiming their un-wavering servitude, etc. Remus grinned, then looked at Ron and Hermione, who were wincing, because at that moment, the twins turned to them, and they were glaring.

"Did you know?"

"And you didn't bother to tell us?"

All that Ron and Hermione could do was mutter "Sorry!" before Ron mentioned, "And Harry's dad was Prongs, and Scabbers was actually Peter Pettigrew, who is Wormtail."

"WHAT???? SCABBERS WAS A DEATH EATER!" Fred and George looked outraged.

"Yes, he was. Though I'm afraid that that isn't the most important problem right now. I have something to tell all of you."

"Does this have something to do with why Sirius is talking to Harry?" Hermione asked shrewdly.

"Yes, it does. In fact, what I'm going to tell you is exactly what Sirius is telling Harry, but we thought that it would be best if he heard this by himself." At this, the teens looked at each other worriedly. This couldn't possibly be good.

Remus seemed to read their concern. "No, it's not bad news. The opposite, actually. It's just rather complicated."

"What is it?" Hermione looked fit to exploding with curiosity, and Ginny wasn't much better.

"This may sound crazy, but it's the truth. As it turns out, Harry's father has come back to life."

(A/N: I could end it there, but I'm not that mean.)

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Hey, Sirius, not that I don't appreciate the warm welcome and everything, but we saw each other this morning." Harry said all of this pressed tightly into Sirius's shoulder.

"I know, but I'm just really happy." Sirius pulled away, giving Harry the biggest smile he had ever seen. It made him look much younger. "Come on, there's something who I want you to meet." He turned and starting half-running down the hall.

"Hey! Wait! Who wants to meet me?" Harry jogged to catch up, but almost ran into Sirius when he stopped again.

"Well… I don't really think I can beat around the bush with this one, so here goes. Harry, your father is alive." He paused. "Man, that sounds stupid."

"I'm sorry, what?" Either Harry had heard him wrong, or Sirius had finally cracked.

"I know, it sounds crazy. We are just as shocked as you are, Harry, but it's really him. We checked with Veritaserum and everything."

Harry's head was spinning. 'I'm dreaming,' he thought. Though it was awfully vivid for a dream. "Can he turn into Prongs?" He asked quietly. He wasn't going to take any chances.

"Yes, we saw him do it. I know it sounds completely unbelievable, but it's true." Sirius noticed how Harry's cheeks were visible fluctuating between a bright red and a pale white. Now, it was white. He was leaning against the wall for support.

"How," he asked quietly.

"We don't know. It's a complete mystery." Sirius answered just as quietly. "But he's back, and he's dying to see you. He thought you were dead." By this time, Harry's eyes were watering. His father was alive! It was a miracle. Hadn't he wished for something like this to happen that night at Privet Drive? Then a thought struck Harry. What if his father didn't like him? He voiced his opinion to Sirius, who just laughed, and then explained to Harry that he and Remus had told James a lot about Harry's life, leaving out only the bits that would make him angry: the Dursleys and Harry's more dangerous escapades. Harry felt relieved.

All this time, they had been slowly making their way towards the hospital wing, which was where James still was. Now they were at the doors.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" Sirius asked his godson quietly. He could only imaging what it must be like to speak to his father for the first time he could remember…

But Harry shook his head. As much as he would love to have Sirius's comforting presence, he knew that it wouldn't likely help situations along much. He needed to do this. And it had to be done alone. Without his godfather's help.

And so, with a deep breath of air, as deep as he could manage, so deep it was painful, Harry pushed open the tall oak double doors of the Hospital Wing.

Really sorry about where I left off, but it was the best place to do it, because I won't really have the opportunity to do so later.

And so, Harry has finally found out. Next chapter, it will be them meeting. Hope I can update soon, but February is really an awful month for that kind of thing. Anyway, please R&R!